Hundreds gather to honor firefighter

Sunday

ROCKFORD — Lawanda Freeman was a little overwhelmed today as she saw the number of people pouring in to pay respects to her husband, Terrance Freeman Sr.

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Nov. 27: Flags at half staff for Rockford firefighter

Nov. 24: Firefighter dies of apparent off-duty heart attack

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ROCKFORD — Lawanda Freeman was a little overwhelmed today as she saw the number of people pouring in to pay respects to her husband, Terrance Freeman Sr.

Terrance, 37, a firefighter with the Rockford Fire Department since 2005, died Sunday of a heart attack while visiting family in Westmont.

More than 400 people turned out for his visitation and funeral at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford St., including more than 100 firefighters from as many as 20 different fire departments around the state.

“I am the proudest wife in the country,” Lawanda Freeman said. “I am proud of my husband. I am proud of the person that he is, the person he was and the person his memory will continue to be.”

Terrance was playing with the couple’s 2-year-old son when he collapsed, Lawanda said, “At first, I thought he was just playing with the baby. I tried to do CPR on him, and he died right there in my arms.”

Terrance’s death was a shock to family and fellow firefighters.

Bo Chaney came on the Fire Department at the same time as Terrance, and the two quickly became close friends.

“We met for lunch every day,” Chaney said. “We started paramedic class together, and we often got the families together to eat.

“I could tell him anything, and it would stay between us. If I needed anything, he would come over and help me. He was like an older brother to me.”

Chaney had just gotten off a shift with Freeman a few hours before he died.

“I kept telling him he looked tired, and he said, ‘No, I’m OK,’ ” Chaney said. “We then talked for a little while, and that was the last I saw him.”

Chief Derek Bergsten said an investigation into Terrance’s death continues.

“We are doing his work history for that day,” Bergsten said. “I can’t really say one way or the other what could have led to it. But being a firefighter, you are at rest and within a minute you are running out the door. There is a huge adrenaline rush to your system, and that does have an effect on you.”

Bergsten said just two weeks ago he had received a compliment about Terrance from a woman he had helped.

“She had nothing but good things to say about his compassion and how he took care of her,” Bergsten said. “That is just a snapshot of how Terrance was on the job.”

Lawanda was thankful to able to spend the last minutes of her husband’s life with him.

“I don’t have any unanswered questions. I had my husband for the last five minutes of his life. I know he loved me, and I loved him. He did everything in his power to make sure I knew that.”